NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The speech by Geneeae, Smuts in the South African Parliament in defence of the Government's action' in dealing with the recent industrial upheaval is a plain blunt statement without any attempt to argue nice points of law or intricate questions of constitutional procedure. He asserted in effect that the declaration of martial law was rendered necessary _ by the exceptional nature of tho crisis, and that the step was justified by its success; and fie defended tho deportations on the grounds of expediency and public policy. That there- was a straining of the law, at any rate as- regards the act of deportation, is generally admitted. If there had not an Indemnity Bill would not have been necessary; but when the public'safety is in danger a Government has to act promptly and effectively,' and in great emergencies it may be even necessary at times, to- suspend the ordinary methods of legal procedure. The Ministers were faccci with "a Syndicalist conspiracy of an extreme type,''' and in view of what happened in July last it would have bean the crassest folly for the Government to have shown any sign of weakness or vac-illation* General Smuts makes it quits clear, that it- was a- trial of strength .between -it daring band of revolutionaries and the StatCj and in such circumstances it is not surprising that some legal technicalities were for the moment brushed aside. The Minister rightly declared that "no invader could inflict greater destruction or bring greater disaster than. Syndicalists who conspired to bring a country to its'knees." fortunately in South Africa the cpmnuinity had sufficient resisting power to meet and overcome the conspiracy, anjd'it is to be hoped that thc_ drastic measures so effectively put in operation will be mi eh an impressive lesson to the lawless section of tho population that the, necessity for similar action may nsver again arise. Pure milk is of such vital importance to the health of the community that tho City .Council; was.fulljtififid in deciding _to bring the matter under the notice of the Government with a view to secure certain improvements in existing conditions., It is to bo hoped that -the. deputation which waited on the Phi ire Minister and the Minister of Pitbli.fi Health on Thursday will have some definite and practical results. AU _ progrcss-iY® communities nijw recognise that in matters directly affecting the- health of th-a people the central Government and ■tho local authorities have- a very real responsibility, and- of recent 'years the powers of inspection and control have been largely Ti-ie State has already taken act-ion in regard to the milk supply, but fu.r- ---! thcr Steps appear to be necessary in order to irtake the supervision thoroughly effective. The aim is to provide sufficient safeguards to prevent contamination in the dairy and, in transit from the. dairy to the consumer; It is said that the inspection of dairy herds is not as complete as it might be, and that -more care should bs taken by -the Railway Department as regards tho carriage of tho milk. A great deal was at one time expected from pasteurisation, but it is now stated that this method of treatment destroys some of the good qualities of the milk. The Council's plan is that the- Government should look after the milk .at the dairies and in transit to the City, and that the Council shoitki. bG given' full control of the supply after it reaches Wellington. This would mean that all the mils; would have to pass through a depot where it-would be inspected. Both Ministers gave-the- deputation very sympathetic replies., the Prime Minister declaring that no doubt Parliament would give the Council ail the powers it'asked for in tho matter. Every care must 'of Course be taken not to hamper of harass private enterprise more than is absolutely necessary to protect the health.of the'community. An increase in cost to the consumer seems inevitable, but few will object to'a slight increase in_pri.ee provided the new method of inspection and control is really effective.. • -As American who has very definite opinions on the subject of the- Monroe. Doctrine is PnotESsoi} Bingham, of Yale.. He is the author of a .work entitled r "The Monroe Doctrine as an Obsolete _ Shibboleth," _ and , recently contributed an article to the Berliner Tayeblatt setting forth his views on United States policy in South America. Some extracts from the article are translated in a recent number of The Literary Digest.. Criticising some of the developments, of the Monroe Doctrine, Dr. Bingham denies that the _ geographical 'proximity of the Latin and AngloSaxon Republics constitutes a natural basis of commercial and political alliance. He -points out that the greatest of the South American States arc situated -much nearer to Spain and Portugal than they are to New York and' New England, and declares that to talk about "naturalsympathy" between the States of North and South America is merely to throw dust into the eyes of the American people. The leading Powers of South America, lie says, are quite able to take care of themselves, and already are strong enough to treat the Monroe Doctrine with derision. After touching upon the developing naval power of the greater Latin Republics, Dr. BisaiuM goes on to remark: "Yet it may safely be nvcrreil that many thoughtful minds see in South America the crucible in ivhieh .Latin, In. diaji ami Asiatic- bkwi are in lie closol.v interminfiW. 'fhe leadiug Indian mliabitan'ts of Per«c Bolivia, Eeiwdot, and Colombia, according to an emiueat an-

thropologist, so closely resemble the na» ] tivee of Northern, Am a, that tho hypothesis of South America being originally colonised by Asiatics assumes an air of plausibility. It is at present quite probable thai this .colonisation. is actively KOiitg on. One thine is certain. The Mongol question in South' America has reached a critical stage. Tho position Bra7.il iins taken with regard to Japanese immigration is exactly opposite to (hat I taken by California. Argentina, actually welcomes the Japanese, and ihe.w. immi* grant? are so numerous that the Japanese Government has subsidised a direct tine of steamships by tire Cape of Good ITopo route. .Another .Ta-pano.se line passes by way of Honolulu to tlie west coast of Sauth America." • D'n. Bingham holds that American commerce is in no way assisted by political interference with the Latin Republics, and lie quotes Viscount Bryoe in support of his opinion that the United States would gain the greatest influence and eventually control the_ whole western hemisphere by. maintaining the attitude of an advocate of peace., His -final conclusion is that the United States "should refrain from holding an umbrella over other people who already have oilo of their own, or from holding it over a friend when it is not raining." "■